BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. said Wednesday the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has effectively struck down two more patents held by NTP Inc., which had successfully sued RIM for patent infringement.
RIM said the patent office has now rejected 100 percent of the claims of the first seven of eight NTP patents it is reexamining and "is expected to issue an office action on the single remaining patent soon."
The Canadian company, which helped popularize mobile e-mailing with its thumb-operated BlackBerry, rattled investors on June 9 with news that it had failed to finalize a $450 million patent dispute settlement with closely held U.S.-based patent holding company NTP.
But Friday, the patent office issued decisions questioning the validity of three more of the eight NTP patents it is reexamining.
Analysts have said every rejected patent gives RIM more leverage in settling the matter with NTP, while noting NTP still has the right to appeal the reexaminations.
The outcome of the case is key to RIM's prospects because of the risk NTP could use a court injunction to halt U.S. sales of RIM's flagship wireless e-mail device.
